Duplicate Files

Bill

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Jul 10, 2007, 10:46:04 AM7/10/07

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I have a program that helps optimize my Windows XP. One part of the program
finds all the duplicate files. When I run this part, it finds 100's of
duplicte files. There might be at least 5 to 10 of each. Is it safe to delete
these if I am not sure what they are for?

Bert Hyman

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Jul 10, 2007, 10:52:42 AM7/10/07

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Bi...@discussions.microsoft.com (=?Utf-8?B?QmlsbA==?=) wrote in
news:390CF94B-A6A4-4C10...@microsoft.com:

If you're not sure what they're for, then no :-)

One reason for apparently duplicate files to exist on your system is
because it's not uncommon for applications to install their own
copies of common DLLs in the installation directory, just to be sure
the version they expect is available to them regardless of what might
be going on elsewhere in the system.

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN | be...@iphouse.com

Shenan Stanley

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Jul 10, 2007, 10:52:45 AM7/10/07

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...
"... if I am not sure what they are for ..."

No. Find out what they are for.

Just because there are duplicate files does not mean they are bad/unused in
one location or another - not to mention - are they *actually* duplicate
files or do they just have some similar characteristics - like filename?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Leonard Grey

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Jul 10, 2007, 11:02:01 AM7/10/07

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Hi Bill:

It's never safe to delete a file if you don't know what it's for -
that's common sense - and it's not a good idea to use 'optimize'
programs for Windows, particularly if you aren't sure of what you're doing.

On the other hand, it's an excellent idea to learn how to maintain your
computer on your own and forget about 'optimize' software, unless
wasting a day reinstalling Windows is your idea of fun. Compish?

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Bill

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Jul 10, 2007, 11:12:02 AM7/10/07

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I get the drift. Thanks.

Alan

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Jul 16, 2007, 11:07:58 PM7/16/07

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Bill,

agree to Leonard. It's not safe to delete duplicate files of system
type e.g. dll, exe. you may delete duplicate documents like doc, xls,
jpg becaue you know what they are for you.

Alan
http://noclone.net

On Jul 10, 10:46 pm, Bill <B...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> I have a program that helps optimize my Windows XP. One part of the program

> finds all theduplicate files. When I run this part, it finds 100's of

allanbraun

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Nov 28, 2008, 9:57:52 PM11/28/08

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I agree with Alan but I use Directory Report to find duplicate files.

http://www.file-utilities.com
The website has a nice video on deleting duplicate files

When in doubt - don't delete anything that you didn't create - it isn't worth the risk

Shenan Stanley

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Nov 28, 2008, 11:14:30 PM11/28/08

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For those wondering what Allan Braun is referencing:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain/browse_frm/thread/ecd11e91ed1167c0?q=Is+it+Safe+file+duplicate

Allan,

On a thread that old (16+ months) it is best you make some reference in your
response to the original post. Few people will likely have history back
that far.